Poirier-Leroy, Andrée-Anne M.2025-09-102025-09-102025https://hdl.handle.net/1828/22745In today’s rapidly evolving, technology-driven workforce, the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) has heightened the need for emotional intelligence (EI) and 21st century skills among university graduates. Research links EI to career-related outcomes such as job performance and leadership, while employers expect universities to develop career-ready graduates. Research indicates that EI training programs can effectively increase these essential skills through targeted interventions and experiential learning in post-secondary education. This study evaluates a training program designed to increase EI and career readiness competencies for a sample of 121 undergraduate students at a Canadian university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using secondary data from self-reported measures of EI and career readiness and a pre-post survey design, the quasi-experimental study examines the effects of the training for increasing total EI, its 10 sub-facets, and eight career readiness competencies. Findings supported the effectiveness of an EI training program in significantly improving total EI and select sub-facets of EI, and partial effectiveness in increasing career readiness competencies. To strengthen arguments supporting causation, future research should employ an experimental research design as the absence of a formal control group in this study limited statistical analyses. Further exploration should identify training components most effective at enhancing EI and its sub-facets. Longitudinal studies with repeated measures could investigate predictive relationships and potential mediating factors between EI and career readiness. The findings also suggest a link between EI-focused training programs and career outcomes. Further investigation into this association could inform program design to better equip university students with essential 21st century skills for their future careers.enAvailable to the World Wide Webemotional intelligencecareer readinesstraining programThesis